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November 06, 2024

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Crush the the Crisis: Sept. 7

TriStar Hendersonville raises awareness of the opioid crisis along with proper disposal of unused medications.

This Friday, Sept. 7, TriStar Hendersonville is helping to “Crush the Crisis” by hosting an opioid take-back day. Volunteers from the hospital, in partnership with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and Hendersonville Police Department, will collect and safely dispose of unused opioid medications.

WHY CRUSH THE CRISIS?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2016 there were 1,186 opioid-related overdose deaths in Tennessee, which equates to 18.1 deaths per 100,000 Tennesseans.  In comparison, the national rate for opioid-related overdose deaths is 13.3 per 100,000 persons. 

“Our goal for ‘Crush the Crisis’ is to bring awareness to the dangers of opioid addiction and increase awareness about the proper disposal of these medications,” says Jeffrey Hodrick, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Southern Joint Replacement Institute. “Opioid addiction can happen to anyone, and unused opioids are a major source of misuse and diversion. We want to provide this opportunity as a confidential and anonymous way for people to dispose of their unused medication properly.”

ELIGIBLE ITEMS FOR THE TAKE-BACK

Volunteers will be collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana).

Volunteers will not be able to accept needles, syringes, lancets or liquids.

“Crush the Crisis” takes place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. under a tent in the front parking lot of the hospital (355 New Shackle Island Road, Hendersonville).

For more info, visit tristarhealth.com/crushthecrisis.

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